That much weight automatically means you should have the transmission set to S4 with the ECT on. Running in D will cause more gear hunting and make the entire drive train struggle a lot more. Owners manual states this.
I have a 21 TRD Offroad and there is ZERO issue towing. Mine is a manual, so I get to control the gears as needed. She is also an overlander, which means that I constantly run heavy. I live in Colorado and am always in the mountains. I have the OME 2.5 suspension installed and everything is on heavy; heavy lift springs in the back, heavy MT-65 in the front, 31" Toyo's. I can tow just about anything with this setup within reason. This fellow definitely has the "buy a bigger truck" mindset and that is absolutely wrong, the Tacoma is completely capable. He did just about everything wrong here and his truck hates him for it. This is definitely a "learn your truck" moment. These kinds of vids irk me because you don't drive the truck right and whine and complain when it doesn't perform as expected. Aggravating to watch
You are killing the transmission , you need to keep the truck on s4 and lock the OD gears , as long as your transmission keeps hunting for gear , your torque converter will stay unlocked and your trans temp will be high . Keep it in S4 and your rpm around 3 to keep coolant flowing and temps under control
I consistently tow a 4270LB 20ft bambi air stream from phoenix(1000ft) to flagstaff(7000ft) while getting 13.5 mpg. Tacoma is capable. Keep it in ECT PWR, and keep the rpm below 4000. This truck does just fine. Don’t fall into that “need” a bigger truck mindset. Take it easy no matter the truck size and trust that engineers are smarter than you.
My Tacoma has add a leaf in rear and that helped alot. I also put on Tacoma TRD sport shocks since they are more tuned for the street. I tow around 5k and I'm happy with the Taco. I am in Texas though and I know elevation kills HP.
Thanks for video. Great information in comment section. Just bought a 2017 tacoma trd,at,double cab. Wife decided to buy a horse . Needless to say a trailer is in my future. Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge.
I have a 2021 Tacoma TRD ORDC 4x4 in a automatic and when towing my 6k pound trailer I always stay in sports mode so it doesn’t shift out of 4th gear and using ECT does help keep it in the proper gear for up & down hill, I also have switched from 87 to 91 octane fuel the truck is more responsive and gets better fuel mileage you will notice the difference after a few fill ups with 91 octane . My Tacoma pulls just fine I do keep it around 55-65mph when towing and getting 15mpg avg , I’m very happy with it .
I’ve had 3 Tacoma’s. All towed well. Wt distribution set up works well. I also added air bags to the rear. I use the sport mode and it shifts better. Using a higher fuel grade does help too. I had a pop up that weighed 3900 dry wt. Fully loaded with gear I was right at 5k. And had no issues. Good luck! Great video
Nice, just upgraded to a 22-foot that weights 4500 fully loaded. It felt a little dicey driving her home so I purchased a weight distribution hitch for this weekend's trip. Looking forward to seeing how that effects things.
I have a 2023 dbl cab TRD Off Road long bed and the stock springs were not cutting it. I put an add a lead kit that gave the truck 2.25" of rear lift and added some Timbren bump stops and its tows/sits 100 percent better now. All in I spent about $1350 to have the suspension work done at a 4x4 center but like i said, it's worth every penny. Especially if your'e like me and can't stand the way the truck squats with a load on the back.
Max towing capacity is not just the trailer but also passengers & any cargo you may have in the bed! You’ll need to add these extra weights to your tow capacity! 3:31
So we tow a similar size travel trailer with a Honda Passport and it handles really good. Vehicle and trailer weight capacities are kept under spec limits and I never pull up mountains faster than 45mh and never exceed 55mph anywhere. Always exceed 14mpg.
Personally, I would be exclusively using “S” mode anytime I would be towing with my 2020 TRD Sport DCLB 4X4. Especially when going up or down the mountains here in BC. BTW, very nice truck and especially Airstream!
@@78reflections Hi Patty, “S” mode is a way of shifting an automatic transmission like a manual transmission. When selecting “S” mode it will shift between 1st & 4th gear on its own. However, if you are towing a trailer, you can intervene and pre select a gear and it won’t shift past that gear until you push up on the shifter. So for example. I have a heavy load in my Tacoma. 5 people, gear in the back and a trailer. At a stop I place the truck in “S” mode. I pull down on the shifter 3 times and it changes the gear from 4th down to 1st. The small LCD display in the middle between the speedo & tachometer shows what gear you are in. So now that you are in first gear the truck will not shift up until you move the shifter up or forward. This will shift the transmission to second gear. And same with the next gear. You can also do the same to downshift from like 4th to 3rd to help slow down the vehicle by using the engines braking power while also using the trucks braking system. Just pull down or back on the shifter to go to a lower gear. This is handy as you can control the RPMs as you move along or slow down fully loaded. I’d suggest experimenting with “S” mode before you head out on a road trip to get a feel of what it’s like to control the shifts. For me, going up and down steep mountain grades with a fully loaded truck is awesome to be able to control the gears. Going up the grades I can keep the RPM up by holding it in 3rd or 4th gear. Going down steep grades I can use and hold the transmission in 2nd or 3rd gear. Making it way easier on the brakes on the Truck and feeling more in control. Also, if you have a trailer like you plan to do, combined with all the weight in the truck it is very important that the trailer has brakes, they are properly adjusted and maintained. It’s very important that the trailer is helping to break as well. The truck can’t do it all. Even with a Tear-Drop trailer. Using ”S” mode is a great way to stay in control at all times. Unfortunately it does require more concentration and is less relaxing than using “D” or “ECT” mode. When towing its good practice to be paying attention at all times. These Tacoma’s can tow but it has to be properly matched and rated. I dunno, I hope this helps.
Don't lug the engine. Revs cool the transmission. Weak link. Don't worry about gas mileage. I got 10-14 mpg towing a 3,000 lb. trailer load San Diego to TX. Towed beautifully. Up hill/ downhill. Be gentle. Temp gauge never moved from normal.
The Tacoma is a great mid size truck and a cult following. And have personal experience owning and then towing with it through my in-laws also owning a Tacoma; TT dry weight RPOD 3,600 LBS. But overall 4,200 LBS and 100 lbs Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH) includes passengers and gear LP tanks and house battery. I was with him to teach him how to level and hook up TT at the Grand OL RV Park in Tennessee. As we were towing through the flats & hills of Tennessee. He felt it was a little underpowered. I was able to drive it as he wanted me to feel how the WDH if needed more adjustment. We towed previously with an Aliner travel trailer and that was 2,200 lbs in total 2,800 lbs. That was perfect for it. There was no wind resistance which can add to towing struggles. As for this the new RPOD although pretty good aerodynamics, still the Tacoma lacked torque through the slightest incline. And the MPG's were an awful 7.5 - 8 mpg's for such a small RV. The Tacoma is a 2021. Clueless of the new Tacoma with boost? Which I would think has more torque. A fan of the truck and Sold my 2016 Tacoma in 2020. And went with a Halfton full size pickup due to my RV purchase in January of 2020. Try to stay small & light and keep super aerodynamic in mind. I read some of the comments and feel some are full of it! You simply do not understand what towing with confidence and comfort means if it's something you do often. I now own two TT's Grand Design and Tab 320. My F150 2.7 when towing the Tab 320 which is perfect for the Tacoma, gets 16.5-17.2 mpg's @ 68 the Tacoma could never do that. You don't know that your towing through your travel. Where as Tacoma you know it's back there and mpg's 11 @ 65 mph which is not bad but I almost get that towing a 6,400 LB Tt thats 8ft wide and poor aerodynamics.
Def need a WD hitch to help with the squatty toyota rear springs. It will also plant your steer tires noticeably firmer. Id also bag the rear end. Im torn between the off road and sport trims. I hate the body roll tendency some toyotas have and wonder if the sport trim suspension would eliminate that. Do you notice much body roll on the hiway?
You might be surprised at your actual "wet" trailer weight and especially actual "tongue" weight with a single axle TT (i had similar issues with the staff at my scale but an employee arrived who knew what he was doing). I was surprised with my Epro 19FBS. The dry wt. is 3260 and dry tongue wt, of 474 (includes LP but not batteries). On a CAT scale my Epro with stuff in it tipped the scale at 3660; included in that was a whopping 640lbs tongue wt. I had 5 gals of water in the fresh water tank and have a double 6volt system, so thats about 105 extra lbs on the tongue. A weight distributing hitch is a must for me because it puts about 30percent of the weight redistributed back to the trailer axle. Payload seems to be a sensitive issue with the Tacoma as opposed to gross trailer weight. I'm towing in flat lands so I'm not as un impressed with power, but my Epro is a 7foot wide trailer and has reduced windage being a foot narrower. For the 3 to 5 percent of the year the Tacoma is a tow vehicle it is ok , not great but ok in the flatlands, for the other 95 percent of its uses it is awesome.
I recently purchased a Geo Pro 19FBS (basically the same trailer). It's a little hilly where I'm at and my truck is lifted with 33" inch tires. The weight of the tires and wheel seem to really impact the towing performance. I'm only getting about 7mpg on the highway doing about 65mph on average and the transmission is constantly between 3500 and 4000 rpms. I've regeared to a 5.29 gear ratio which helps - can't imaging how bad it would be without the gearing. I'm really considering purchasing a new set of wheel and tires to use for longer towing trips and keeping my existing wheels and tires for overlanding trips without the trailer.
I have a 2017 TRD and 16' caravel. WD hitch works well. I will use S-mode a bit more going forward. TBH, I monitor the ATF temp using a OBD2 module and restrain my right foot to keep the temp below 210F. I wish the taco had a super/turbo engine; going over the Aspen Pass being overtaken by big rigs was not fun at all.
A most often missed issue is tow ratings are not an absolute. That rating is determined using a trailer that has a given minimal frontal area, as in minimal sqft. or meter/sq. like a flatbed utility with bricks or firewood. Travel trailers throw all that out the window, as the wind resistance is more parasitic than the weight. Faster you go, the worse. Feels ok from a stop because the weight is well under limitations, but at hwy speeds it will cook a drivetrain
I have 115,000 on my '16 Tacoma. At least half of those miles have been towing an enclosed V-Nose cargo trailer that's about 2200lbs empty and full of motocross gear/parts/bikes/tools/fuel/generator/ and with a sleeping quarters, probably about 3500 when it's full. I pull it from NY to Timmins, NY to Florida, NY to Texas, and NY to Alabama multiple times a year. In S4 ECT mode on I can typically keep it around 70-75mph. I changed the transmission oil at 100,000mi, and the oil was slightly darker than new oil and next to nothing on the magnets. Trust me, that transmission isn't gunna cook, it can take it. All this talk about ruining transmissions from towing with this truck is just BS
I'm late to the party. I don't run mirror extensions either on my 2021 coachmen clipper, which is 7'9" wide. The trailer isn't wide enough to need them. The view is perfect without them.
For anyone watching this. This model tacoma does in fact have a factory harness hook up for a trailer brake control module. Best I have found is the REDARC brake controller kit. It will cost you about $170 and plugs directly into the factory harness behind the trim cover in the drivers foot well and has three different trim plates that fit the factory blanks in the dash. Do a quick search on UA-cam for installation instructions
I tow a 1400 pound pop up witj my 2020 Tacoma. I always keep the trans in s5 or s4 depending on the grade im on. The truck handles it fine for me. I dont tow in west with high mountains. The most is western Pennsylvania Laurel Highlands were i like to camp.
I have a 2021 TRD Off Road and installed Air Bags. I’m currently towing a 2019 RPOD and no sag or sway. I would agree about the truck searching for a gear. Thought about getting a transmission gauge..
Hey man, great video and scenery! I used to live in Duvall, WA outside of Redmond, one of the prettiest places I've ever lived. If you do another one of these, you should go to Snoqualmie or somewhere cool like that. Are you in a v4 or v6? I just got a new 2023 v6 4x4 and all the reading and videos say the ETC really helps but sounds like your truck is really struggling and worried my v6 needs to REALLY take into account load and hill grades, I would hate to blow my truck up trying to haul a camper trailer through the hills, much less Snoqualmie or Steven's Pass, someone might have to drag my busted truck back to Duvall 🙂
I've got the V6...in my experience, ETC doesn't seem to do much, but I can't speak to other's thoughts on the matter. The truck definitely struggles with any weight behind it anywhere in the Cascades...that said, just ease off the throttle and you'll be fine.
I am towing with a 2019 Tacoma SR5. You need a distribution hitch. I am pulling about the same weight camper. Would not pull more. Wind and terrain create more issues pulling a box.
Nice truck/trailer combo. 12mpg is decent mileage when towing a travel trailer...yours would have been better mind you if not for those couple of gas sucking starts from 0-60. The truck looks like it tows just fine bu would tow even better with a properly set up weight distribution hitch. It would move a bit of that weight that is causing the sag to the front wheels for even better handling. I would not be worried about that truck being under capacity for that trailer. That truck would tow that trailer and even a much bigger airstream forever. That V6 Toyota engine is built to rev, and the frequent shifting will not hurt that transmission one bit. Heck they would not put all those gears in the transmission if you were not going to need them once in awhile. Tractor trailers don't have mostly 18-speeds just because the drivers enjoy shifting....Some tow mirrors and a weight distribution hitch and that set up will get you anywhere you want to go for thousands and thousands of miles... safe travels.
@@aaronstestlab i had the Toyota dealership install a magnuson supercharger on my Tacoma earlier this year. Bought the supercharger separate but still. Truck runs great with it on. As part of the install, there’s two tune programs one for the engine and the other for the transmission. I’ve had less issues with the trans hunting for gears since the install. Haven’t had a chance to tow anything significant yet.
What tire pressures are you running (truck & trailer). I pull a 5x10 diamond cargo trailer with extra height (6ft inside). In the trailer is a 250 & a 110 trail bikes with a tent, camping gear, etc in the bed and get 14.5mpg all day in FL. Or is it the elevation? Mines a ‘19 TRD OR double cab short bed bone stock. 35F & 38R cold
Man, when your empty 0-60 is 12-13 seconds you can tell me about uphill performance while towing 3500 lbs. I'm just saying what I think you already know that Midsize trucks aren't meant for heavy work but they do fine with moderate work and are completely and totally acceptable in context. I regularly tow a 3500 lbs popup with an FZJ80 (regeared to 4.56) and would KILL for the performance you are getting here. I get about 11 mpg towing and 0-60 is measured in likelihood to achieve and I still think that it's perfectly capable. The GX470 is what I tow it with mostly now and I get about the same 11 mpg but the towing performance is night and day. I would be interested in getting the MPG numbers on that ecoboost towing the same trailer over the same route, I can bet you it's not much above single digits if at all if my experience is anything to go by. I towed a 4500 lb box trailer about the same distance in Utah last year and got 7 mpg. 7! Plenty of power means plenty of fuel. In any event, thank you for posting this. I think the 3.5 is the wrong motor for the Tacoma, but its still a good enough motor for towing imo.
That poor V6 is just ringing and singing up that mountain. We traded our 2019 Tacoma for a 2010 Ram 2500 Cummins. Our RV is 4500 and now we don’t have to worry about cargo, tanks and additional weight when going up and down grades. Do miss the Tacomas ability to navigate tight areas though.
I hand a 2015 Tacoma pulling a 3500 pound trailer across Canada, the truck is amazing I have towing for 40 years with multipul vehicles and trailers, they are all the same slower on hills . As far as gas mileage any time you weight and air drag the mileage will get worse. Don't be to hard on the truck they are great.
Curious what you are towing for trailer…looking for new tow vehicle for Tab 400, right around that same weight. Can’t decide if Tacoma is enough or do I something bigger.
What size of you u-clamps and metal sheet you used for brake controller? I’m getting my 22FB in few weeks and idea of drilling holes in the frame turns me off, rust might develop. Many thanks 👍
4"Wx5"D u-bolts into a 1/4" aluminum mounting plate. I'd double check the frame size though before ordering anything. AS might use a larger beam on a larger trailer.
My trd offroad struggles with the trailer my subaru outback tows easily. I really just don't tow with the taco unless I absolutely have too. Lack of power, has to be in manual, way less mpgs. AVG around 10-13
To be fair he was up to speed at 60 (which I assume is the speed limit at that stretch) when people were entering into the oncoming lane (on a mountainside no less!) to pass over him. He was sluggish, but he was also accelerating from a dead stop, uphill, in the mountains with less O2 and thus less engine power. That's pretty decent for a midsize, those other folks were just impatient, and perhaps a bit unsafe.
Maybe consider sumosprings? which will Eliminate your sway and squat. KDMAX tune Cold air intake/exhaust upgrade.. but only if you love your Taco that much… if not, get a Tundra
@@aaronstestlab mine is 2019 still on the warranty had it in several times and I did not detect The tune you don’t say nothing they don’t know it’s all in the programming
I have airbags on my 2020 and haul a 1250 lb teardrop. The truck struggles, but manages to barely get the job done with the trans in S4 (and S5 on flat highways for some stretches) and ECT button on. My experience with the Tacoma has been a love/hate relationship. It does some things extremely well and totally fails at other things.
I feel exactly the same way. One one hand it's held it's value very well. On the other, it doesn't tow well, is slow af and has a bunch of interior rattles. I think the truth is that this truck was designed in an era without much competition in the midsize space. So they could get away with mediocre performance and terrible interior quality. Hopefully, the 2024 redesign will rectify this, I'll likely trade in for that.
@@mannycali334 1200. And yes, it does struggle. I have 4 other trucks, one a 1/2ton with a v6, no ecoboost that handles it no problem. I like my Taco, but it is nowhere near the workhorse the diehard fans make it out to be.
Its a mid size truck, and also one you have is TRD, so towing is very bad, i think its rated at 4K due to TRD configuration. SR5 has more towing capability but still, its not really a towing vehicle. Its more of a small business owner thing, or a off road / long longevity vehicle. Thanks for video, i wonder how Nissan frontier would do
Say what you want but holy cow you guys are giving that poor tacoma abuse. Its not a race car to floor it 0-60 hauling but nice to see someone else do it
Be careful when towing with ECT on…it will help keeping the rpm’s up for power, but the Tacoma transmission will heat up quickly. I just learned that with my UltraGauge monitor. With ECT on, trans quickly heated up to 215-220* towing trailer up hill. With ECT off and in S4, it stayed under 210*
I tried towing with my tacoma and I laughed at how terrible it was. My dad has a f350 dually diesel and you can't tell your towing anything up to 10000 pounds.
I have a 2019 Tacoma Off Road snd it is the worse truck I have ever owned. It is reliable....that is it. It has NO pick up. It does not handle anything well...I have had it since it was brand new and have no idea what the hype is about it. I will be trading it in and getting a truck.
I have the same truck and not sure what you’re talking about. I put a pedal commander and cold air on it and made a huge difference in throttle response and acceleration. Had it deep in the woods and city streets and still enjoy it.
My Jayco Featherlite is 3880lbs empty and I can barley make it up the slightest grades. I hate to even think about it, but its likely time to move on from my Tacoma. Which breaks my heart, cause I love my Tacoma, but its just not a good vehicle for towing at all. For a 278 hp motor it really lacks power where you need it.
I feel the same way. We just upgraded to a 22' that weights 4500#s loaded. The Tacoma struggles with it. Also looking at a new truck but sadly not much is available without a dealer markup.
Dear lord that transmission is all over the place. Get a good tune and put it in S4. Your transmission will run hotter doing all that jumping between 4th and 5th.
0-60 uphill towing 3500# in 13.46 seconds...my last half ton V8, which shall remain nameless, would have never seen 60mph towing 3500# uphill period. It wasn't that long ago, and it got great gas mileage, but it wouldn't tow a paper sack full of marshmallows.
I have a TRD off-road and it shows like crap also not to mention the gear hunting this generation of trucks are complete garbage I'm selling mine as soon as possible
That much weight automatically means you should have the transmission set to S4 with the ECT on. Running in D will cause more gear hunting and make the entire drive train struggle a lot more. Owners manual states this.
This is the way.
Hope he reads your comment, you are on the money.
I have a 21 TRD Offroad and there is ZERO issue towing. Mine is a manual, so I get to control the gears as needed. She is also an overlander, which means that I constantly run heavy. I live in Colorado and am always in the mountains. I have the OME 2.5 suspension installed and everything is on heavy; heavy lift springs in the back, heavy MT-65 in the front, 31" Toyo's.
I can tow just about anything with this setup within reason. This fellow definitely has the "buy a bigger truck" mindset and that is absolutely wrong, the Tacoma is completely capable. He did just about everything wrong here and his truck hates him for it. This is definitely a "learn your truck" moment.
These kinds of vids irk me because you don't drive the truck right and whine and complain when it doesn't perform as expected. Aggravating to watch
yeah, well that’s just like your opinion man
You are killing the transmission , you need to keep the truck on s4 and lock the OD gears , as long as your transmission keeps hunting for gear , your torque converter will stay unlocked and your trans temp will be high . Keep it in S4 and your rpm around 3 to keep coolant flowing and temps under control
How do you lock the OD gears?
@@christianramone5204 use selective mode so your transmission doesn’t try to use s5 or 6
Have you noticed a difference after making adjustments
By S4, do you mean go into manual mode and keep it in 4tg gear at 60 mph?
@@christianramone5204Tacoma doesn’t have OD…it’s a misconstrued comment. They need to at least make a viable comment.
I consistently tow a 4270LB 20ft bambi air stream from phoenix(1000ft) to flagstaff(7000ft) while getting 13.5 mpg. Tacoma is capable. Keep it in ECT PWR, and keep the rpm below 4000. This truck does just fine. Don’t fall into that “need” a bigger truck mindset. Take it easy no matter the truck size and trust that engineers are smarter than you.
My Tacoma has add a leaf in rear and that helped alot. I also put on Tacoma TRD sport shocks since they are more tuned for the street. I tow around 5k and I'm happy with the Taco. I am in Texas though and I know elevation kills HP.
What brand of leaf spring kit did you use?
Thanks for video. Great information in comment section. Just bought a 2017 tacoma trd,at,double cab. Wife decided to buy a horse . Needless to say a trailer is in my future. Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge.
I have a 2021 Tacoma TRD ORDC 4x4 in a automatic and when towing my 6k pound trailer I always stay in sports mode so it doesn’t shift out of 4th gear and using ECT does help keep it in the proper gear for up & down hill, I also have switched from 87 to 91 octane fuel the truck is more responsive and gets better fuel mileage you will notice the difference after a few fill ups with 91 octane . My Tacoma pulls just fine I do keep it around 55-65mph when towing and getting 15mpg avg , I’m very happy with it .
Do you live near mountains?
I live in Arizona I’m always climbing hills anywhere from 3%-7% grades
How many pounds are you towing?
I tow a 6,000 pound trailer sometimes gets up to 6,300 depending on my load for that day
Hey sir, you still don’t have any problems cause of the towing?
I’ve had 3 Tacoma’s. All towed well. Wt distribution set up works well. I also added air bags to the rear. I use the sport mode and it shifts better. Using a higher fuel grade does help too. I had a pop up that weighed 3900 dry wt. Fully loaded with gear I was right at 5k. And had no issues. Good luck! Great video
Nice, just upgraded to a 22-foot that weights 4500 fully loaded. It felt a little dicey driving her home so I purchased a weight distribution hitch for this weekend's trip. Looking forward to seeing how that effects things.
@@aaronstestlab The wt distribution set up will help a lot. Good luck!!
Fake news....l.g.b.
I have a 2023 dbl cab TRD Off Road long bed and the stock springs were not cutting it. I put an add a lead kit that gave the truck 2.25" of rear lift and added some Timbren bump stops and its tows/sits 100 percent better now. All in I spent about $1350 to have the suspension work done at a 4x4 center but like i said, it's worth every penny. Especially if your'e like me and can't stand the way the truck squats with a load on the back.
Max towing capacity is not just the trailer but also passengers & any cargo you may have in the bed! You’ll need to add these extra weights to your tow capacity! 3:31
Tow with S4 with ECT on just like it says in the manual.
I don't think it does
For my 6 speed manual, 3 or 4 gear depending on several factors when towing.
I assume there's no temp gauge for the manual transmission. I'd love to know how hot it gets
So we tow a similar size travel trailer with a Honda Passport and it handles really good. Vehicle and trailer weight capacities are kept under spec limits and I never pull up mountains faster than 45mh and never exceed 55mph anywhere. Always exceed 14mpg.
Personally, I would be exclusively using “S” mode anytime I would be towing with my 2020 TRD Sport DCLB 4X4. Especially when going up or down the mountains here in BC. BTW, very nice truck and especially Airstream!
Can you explain s mode to me please? I just got my Tacoma and am towing a teardrop trailer. I just don’t know when I should switch to s mode.
@@78reflections Hi Patty, “S” mode is a way of shifting an automatic transmission like a manual transmission. When selecting “S” mode it will shift between 1st & 4th gear on its own. However, if you are towing a trailer, you can intervene and pre select a gear and it won’t shift past that gear until you push up on the shifter.
So for example. I have a heavy load in my Tacoma. 5 people, gear in the back and a trailer. At a stop I place the truck in “S” mode. I pull down on the shifter 3 times and it changes the gear from 4th down to 1st. The small LCD display in the middle between the speedo & tachometer shows what gear you are in. So now that you are in first gear the truck will not shift up until you move the shifter up or forward. This will shift the transmission to second gear. And same with the next gear. You can also do the same to downshift from like 4th to 3rd to help slow down the vehicle by using the engines braking power while also using the trucks braking system. Just pull down or back on the shifter to go to a lower gear. This is handy as you can control the RPMs as you move along or slow down fully loaded.
I’d suggest experimenting with “S” mode before you head out on a road trip to get a feel of what it’s like to control the shifts.
For me, going up and down steep mountain grades with a fully loaded truck is awesome to be able to control the gears. Going up the grades I can keep the RPM up by holding it in 3rd or 4th gear. Going down steep grades I can use and hold the transmission in 2nd or 3rd gear. Making it way easier on the brakes on the Truck and feeling more in control.
Also, if you have a trailer like you plan to do, combined with all the weight in the truck it is very important that the trailer has brakes, they are properly adjusted and maintained. It’s very important that the trailer is helping to break as well. The truck can’t do it all. Even with a Tear-Drop trailer.
Using ”S” mode is a great way to stay in control at all times. Unfortunately it does require more concentration and is less relaxing than using “D” or “ECT” mode. When towing its good practice to be paying attention at all times. These Tacoma’s can tow but it has to be properly matched and rated.
I dunno, I hope this helps.
Don't lug the engine. Revs cool the transmission. Weak link. Don't worry about gas mileage. I got 10-14 mpg towing a 3,000 lb. trailer load San Diego to TX. Towed beautifully. Up hill/ downhill. Be gentle. Temp gauge never moved from normal.
The Tacoma is a great mid size truck and a cult following. And have personal experience owning and then towing with it through my in-laws also owning a Tacoma; TT dry weight RPOD 3,600 LBS. But overall 4,200 LBS and 100 lbs Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH) includes passengers and gear LP tanks and house battery. I was with him to teach him how to level and hook up TT at the Grand OL RV Park in Tennessee. As we were towing through the flats & hills of Tennessee. He felt it was a little underpowered. I was able to drive it as he wanted me to feel how the WDH if needed more adjustment. We towed previously with an Aliner travel trailer and that was 2,200 lbs in total 2,800 lbs. That was perfect for it. There was no wind resistance which can add to towing struggles. As for this the new RPOD although pretty good aerodynamics, still the Tacoma lacked torque through the slightest incline. And the MPG's were an awful 7.5 - 8 mpg's for such a small RV. The Tacoma is a 2021. Clueless of the new Tacoma with boost? Which I would think has more torque. A fan of the truck and Sold my 2016 Tacoma in 2020. And went with a Halfton full size pickup due to my RV purchase in January of 2020. Try to stay small & light and keep super aerodynamic in mind. I read some of the comments and feel some are full of it! You simply do not understand what towing with confidence and comfort means if it's something you do often. I now own two TT's Grand Design and Tab 320. My F150 2.7 when towing the Tab 320 which is perfect for the Tacoma, gets 16.5-17.2 mpg's @ 68 the Tacoma could never do that. You don't know that your towing through your travel. Where as Tacoma you know it's back there and mpg's 11 @ 65 mph which is not bad but I almost get that towing a 6,400 LB Tt thats 8ft wide and poor aerodynamics.
Def need a WD hitch to help with the squatty toyota rear springs. It will also plant your steer tires noticeably firmer. Id also bag the rear end. Im torn between the off road and sport trims. I hate the body roll tendency some toyotas have and wonder if the sport trim suspension would eliminate that. Do you notice much body roll on the hiway?
I've since upgraded to a WD hitch and it's made a world of difference. Still pretty slow, but feels very confident otherwise.
That’s all I needed to see thank you for your video
You might be surprised at your actual "wet" trailer weight and especially actual "tongue" weight with a single axle TT (i had similar issues with the staff at my scale but an employee arrived who knew what he was doing). I was surprised with my Epro 19FBS. The dry wt. is 3260 and dry tongue wt, of 474 (includes LP but not batteries). On a CAT scale my Epro with stuff in it tipped the scale at 3660; included in that was a whopping 640lbs tongue wt. I had 5 gals of water in the fresh water tank and have a double 6volt system, so thats about 105 extra lbs on the tongue. A weight distributing hitch is a must for me because it puts about 30percent of the weight redistributed back to the trailer axle. Payload seems to be a sensitive issue with the Tacoma as opposed to gross trailer weight. I'm towing in flat lands so I'm not as un impressed with power, but my Epro is a 7foot wide trailer and has reduced windage being a foot narrower. For the 3 to 5 percent of the year the Tacoma is a tow vehicle it is ok , not great but ok in the flatlands, for the other 95 percent of its uses it is awesome.
I recently purchased a Geo Pro 19FBS (basically the same trailer). It's a little hilly where I'm at and my truck is lifted with 33" inch tires. The weight of the tires and wheel seem to really impact the towing performance. I'm only getting about 7mpg on the highway doing about 65mph on average and the transmission is constantly between 3500 and 4000 rpms. I've regeared to a 5.29 gear ratio which helps - can't imaging how bad it would be without the gearing. I'm really considering purchasing a new set of wheel and tires to use for longer towing trips and keeping my existing wheels and tires for overlanding trips without the trailer.
I have a 2017 TRD and 16' caravel. WD hitch works well. I will use S-mode a bit more going forward. TBH, I monitor the ATF temp using a OBD2 module and restrain my right foot to keep the temp below 210F. I wish the taco had a super/turbo engine; going over the Aspen Pass being overtaken by big rigs was not fun at all.
haha, I know the feeling
A most often missed issue is tow ratings are not an absolute. That rating is determined using a trailer that has a given minimal frontal area, as in minimal sqft. or meter/sq. like a flatbed utility with bricks or firewood.
Travel trailers throw all that out the window, as the wind resistance is more parasitic than the weight. Faster you go, the worse. Feels ok from a stop because the weight is well under limitations, but at hwy speeds it will cook a drivetrain
I have 115,000 on my '16 Tacoma. At least half of those miles have been towing an enclosed V-Nose cargo trailer that's about 2200lbs empty and full of motocross gear/parts/bikes/tools/fuel/generator/ and with a sleeping quarters, probably about 3500 when it's full. I pull it from NY to Timmins, NY to Florida, NY to Texas, and NY to Alabama multiple times a year. In S4 ECT mode on I can typically keep it around 70-75mph. I changed the transmission oil at 100,000mi, and the oil was slightly darker than new oil and next to nothing on the magnets. Trust me, that transmission isn't gunna cook, it can take it. All this talk about ruining transmissions from towing with this truck is just BS
@@cledussnow9507if your towing @75 with a little Toyota your insane
@@kenj.8897 well he does do motocross lol
I notice that you don't have mirror extensions. I was wondering how wide the trailer is and how well you can see what's behind you.
I'm late to the party. I don't run mirror extensions either on my 2021 coachmen clipper, which is 7'9" wide. The trailer isn't wide enough to need them. The view is perfect without them.
Great mpg for what it is towing.
For anyone watching this. This model tacoma does in fact have a factory harness hook up for a trailer brake control module. Best I have found is the REDARC brake controller kit. It will cost you about $170 and plugs directly into the factory harness behind the trim cover in the drivers foot well and has three different trim plates that fit the factory blanks in the dash. Do a quick search on UA-cam for installation instructions
I ended up going with the Tekonsha Prodigy iD and 3D printing a trim plate. Think it works and looks great.
I tow a 1400 pound pop up witj my 2020 Tacoma. I always keep the trans in s5 or s4 depending on the grade im on. The truck handles it fine for me. I dont tow in west with high mountains. The most is western Pennsylvania Laurel Highlands were i like to camp.
On takeoffs, did you try sliding the shifter to the left and using the S1, S2, etc.?
I have a 2021 TRD Off Road and installed Air Bags. I’m currently towing a 2019 RPOD and no sag or sway. I would agree about the truck searching for a gear. Thought about getting a transmission gauge..
Just get a tune ppl. Also, what air bag kit did you use? I need kt
Hey man, great video and scenery! I used to live in Duvall, WA outside of Redmond, one of the prettiest places I've ever lived. If you do another one of these, you should go to Snoqualmie or somewhere cool like that. Are you in a v4 or v6? I just got a new 2023 v6 4x4 and all the reading and videos say the ETC really helps but sounds like your truck is really struggling and worried my v6 needs to REALLY take into account load and hill grades, I would hate to blow my truck up trying to haul a camper trailer through the hills, much less Snoqualmie or Steven's Pass, someone might have to drag my busted truck back to Duvall 🙂
I've got the V6...in my experience, ETC doesn't seem to do much, but I can't speak to other's thoughts on the matter. The truck definitely struggles with any weight behind it anywhere in the Cascades...that said, just ease off the throttle and you'll be fine.
I am towing with a 2019 Tacoma SR5. You need a distribution hitch. I am pulling about the same weight camper. Would not pull more. Wind and terrain create more issues pulling a box.
Not sure that would address the power issue
Would putting the transmission in 4th gear help? I feel like the transmission doesn’t shift well on it’s own
Do you have any trans temp devices? I have seen some guys say its nearly a necessity for long incline trips.
No, I assume if it becomes a problem the truck will let me know
Nice truck/trailer combo. 12mpg is decent mileage when towing a travel trailer...yours would have been better mind you if not for those couple of gas sucking starts from 0-60. The truck looks like it tows just fine bu would tow even better with a properly set up weight distribution hitch. It would move a bit of that weight that is causing the sag to the front wheels for even better handling. I would not be worried about that truck being under capacity for that trailer. That truck would tow that trailer and even a much bigger airstream forever. That V6 Toyota engine is built to rev, and the frequent shifting will not hurt that transmission one bit. Heck they would not put all those gears in the transmission if you were not going to need them once in awhile. Tractor trailers don't have mostly 18-speeds just because the drivers enjoy shifting....Some tow mirrors and a weight distribution hitch and that set up will get you anywhere you want to go for thousands and thousands of miles... safe travels.
I've since bought a WD hitch...you're right, huge difference!
That truck should be wired for a brake controller. The plug is behind the kick panel on the drivers side.
I just use a wireless one so the trailer can be pulled by multiple vehicles
Look into the Magnuson superchager and some air bags
I might consider it if it were offered via Toyota. Not interested in voiding my warranty.
@@aaronstestlab i had the Toyota dealership install a magnuson supercharger on my Tacoma earlier this year. Bought the supercharger separate but still. Truck runs great with it on. As part of the install, there’s two tune programs one for the engine and the other for the transmission. I’ve had less issues with the trans hunting for gears since the install. Haven’t had a chance to tow anything significant yet.
You may need to consider that it’s not necessarily the weight but the wind resistance that plays the largest factor when towing travel trailers.
Its both
What tire pressures are you running (truck & trailer). I pull a 5x10 diamond cargo trailer with extra height (6ft inside). In the trailer is a 250 & a 110 trail bikes with a tent, camping gear, etc in the bed and get 14.5mpg all day in FL. Or is it the elevation? Mines a ‘19 TRD OR double cab short bed bone stock. 35F & 38R cold
Man, when your empty 0-60 is 12-13 seconds you can tell me about uphill performance while towing 3500 lbs. I'm just saying what I think you already know that Midsize trucks aren't meant for heavy work but they do fine with moderate work and are completely and totally acceptable in context. I regularly tow a 3500 lbs popup with an FZJ80 (regeared to 4.56) and would KILL for the performance you are getting here. I get about 11 mpg towing and 0-60 is measured in likelihood to achieve and I still think that it's perfectly capable. The GX470 is what I tow it with mostly now and I get about the same 11 mpg but the towing performance is night and day. I would be interested in getting the MPG numbers on that ecoboost towing the same trailer over the same route, I can bet you it's not much above single digits if at all if my experience is anything to go by. I towed a 4500 lb box trailer about the same distance in Utah last year and got 7 mpg. 7! Plenty of power means plenty of fuel.
In any event, thank you for posting this. I think the 3.5 is the wrong motor for the Tacoma, but its still a good enough motor for towing imo.
Lol, thanks for some perspective.
“
Stop it , 0 to 60 it’s 6 seconds
Great video. The Tacoma just needs a better gear ratio.
I think it needs an engine with a better torque curve
@@aaronstestlab that too! Lol
using cruise control too? I mean I dont enjoy when the rpms stay that high for that long. any temps act up?
No problems with temps so far
would it help to have it regeared?
It might help to have it engine swapped
Thanks for posting this. 👍We have a 19’ Tacoma MT6. We are looking at the Airstream Basecamp 20x. Wondering now if it will be too much for it?
Should be ok. Wouldn't go any bigger though.
I think its too much. Should go smaller
Regear to 5.29. You be fine.
If you do a lot if towing, I would look at redoing your gears. There's a lot of information out there.
I've thought about it. But I've also thought that it's a pretty expensive band aid for what is ultimately an underpowered engine.
That poor V6 is just ringing and singing up that mountain. We traded our 2019 Tacoma for a 2010 Ram 2500 Cummins. Our RV is 4500 and now we don’t have to worry about cargo, tanks and additional weight when going up and down grades. Do miss the Tacomas ability to navigate tight areas though.
I hand a 2015 Tacoma pulling a 3500 pound trailer across Canada, the truck is amazing I have towing for 40 years with multipul vehicles and trailers, they are all the same slower on hills . As far as gas mileage any time you weight and air drag the mileage will get worse. Don't be to hard on the truck they are great.
Does the Canadian government automatically freeze your bank account if they catch you with a truck and a trailer?
@@aaronstestlab😂😂😂
Curious what you are towing for trailer…looking for new tow vehicle for Tab 400, right around that same weight. Can’t decide if Tacoma is enough or do I something bigger.
What size of you u-clamps and metal sheet you used for brake controller?
I’m getting my 22FB in few weeks and idea of drilling holes in the frame turns me off, rust might develop.
Many thanks 👍
4"Wx5"D u-bolts into a 1/4" aluminum mounting plate. I'd double check the frame size though before ordering anything. AS might use a larger beam on a larger trailer.
How much difference do you think it would make with 700 lbs less trailer weight with same shape trailer and same hitch weight?
Probably noticeable when accelerating, but wouldn't effect mileage much as that's more a function of wind resistance.
@@aaronstestlab Thanks. I appreciate your work here.
Nice nod to TFL there!
My trd offroad struggles with the trailer my subaru outback tows easily. I really just don't tow with the taco unless I absolutely have too. Lack of power, has to be in manual, way less mpgs. AVG around 10-13
My question for you is do they have a ECT system on that year
Yes it does
Tow mode
I was waiting for a turtle to pass him😆😀😂🤣😂😀😆
are you still waiting?
@@aaronstestlab fell asleep....couldnt wait any longer😁
To be fair he was up to speed at 60 (which I assume is the speed limit at that stretch) when people were entering into the oncoming lane (on a mountainside no less!) to pass over him. He was sluggish, but he was also accelerating from a dead stop, uphill, in the mountains with less O2 and thus less engine power. That's pretty decent for a midsize, those other folks were just impatient, and perhaps a bit unsafe.
Maybe consider sumosprings? which will Eliminate your sway and squat.
KDMAX tune
Cold air intake/exhaust upgrade.. but only if you love your Taco that much… if not, get a Tundra
Yeah, I’m just gonna get a tundra
how heavy is that trailer?
Try a OV tune or KD tune and you’ll notice a big difference in performance and Transmissions especially towing l did
Too scared of voiding my warranty
@@aaronstestlab mine is 2019 still on the warranty had it in several times and I did not detect The tune you don’t say nothing they don’t know it’s all in the programming
How come you don’t drive with the 4h on
You’re not supposed to use 4h on dry pavement
I have airbags on my 2020 and haul a 1250 lb teardrop. The truck struggles, but manages to barely get the job done with the trans in S4 (and S5 on flat highways for some stretches) and ECT button on. My experience with the Tacoma has been a love/hate relationship. It does some things extremely well and totally fails at other things.
I feel exactly the same way. One one hand it's held it's value very well. On the other, it doesn't tow well, is slow af and has a bunch of interior rattles. I think the truth is that this truck was designed in an era without much competition in the midsize space. So they could get away with mediocre performance and terrible interior quality. Hopefully, the 2024 redesign will rectify this, I'll likely trade in for that.
You struggle to haul 1200lbs? Really or do you mean 12000lbs?
@@mannycali334 1200. And yes, it does struggle. I have 4 other trucks, one a 1/2ton with a v6, no ecoboost that handles it no problem.
I like my Taco, but it is nowhere near the workhorse the diehard fans make it out to be.
@@Steve-uy8kx interesting, I tow a trailer that’s around 2k lbs with no issues
I now see what other people talk about gear hunting , lol thankfully my 21 does not do that
5th and 6th not for towing. 4th at 3,000 rpm is a good choice.
why not
Its a mid size truck, and also one you have is TRD, so towing is very bad, i think its rated at 4K due to TRD configuration. SR5 has more towing capability but still, its not really a towing vehicle. Its more of a small business owner thing, or a off road / long longevity vehicle. Thanks for video, i wonder how Nissan frontier would do
It sounds like the engine is working pretty hard. Is it a 4 or a 6?
6...Tacomas just don't tow well
@@aaronstestlab is it true that all v6 4x4's now have the tow package?
Take automatic trans out of D, and enable ECT. This should stop gear hunting.
Everything I wanted to know but, were afraid to ask :-)
Gear upgrade and ovtune or kdmax tune would make a big difference
Too scared of voiding my warranty
@@aaronstestlab the tune wont void warranty.
Say what you want but holy cow you guys are giving that poor tacoma abuse. Its not a race car to floor it 0-60 hauling but nice to see someone else do it
@ 1:31 sway is not a problem because of the built-in Toyota anti-sway system - so you're forgiven.
GET THE OTT TUNE…WHOLE DIFF TRUCK DAIKY AND TOWING
aco reliablity is #1. Unfortunately, to tow nuythng one needs a Tundra.
mechanical reliability is great, resale value is great, interior quality is shit
'S' mode all the way.
Dude are you on ect and s4??? That's the only gear you should be on when towing.
I do run with ECT on. Though I feel like it doesn’t make much of a difference.
Be careful when towing with ECT on…it will help keeping the rpm’s up for power, but the Tacoma transmission will heat up quickly. I just learned that with my UltraGauge monitor. With ECT on, trans quickly heated up to 215-220* towing trailer up hill.
With ECT off and in S4, it stayed under 210*
This is what I was wondering. Manual says S4 and ECT on for towing.
@@Droow-d2g that’s what I read too unless flat land then can be on s5. But I have not read about overheating on ect though
What is payload that is all that matters
Cold air intake will help some but definitely with get more air in the engine.
I tried towing with my tacoma and I laughed at how terrible it was. My dad has a f350 dually diesel and you can't tell your towing anything up to 10000 pounds.
They really aren't' great for towin
@@aaronstestlab no but they are pretty great offroad 👍
I have a 2019 Tacoma Off Road snd it is the worse truck I have ever owned. It is reliable....that is it. It has NO pick up. It does not handle anything well...I have had it since it was brand new and have no idea what the hype is about it. I will be trading it in and getting a truck.
Lol sounds like you’re not happy with it
I have the same truck and not sure what you’re talking about. I put a pedal commander and cold air on it and made a huge difference in throttle response and acceleration. Had it deep in the woods and city streets and still enjoy it.
Sounds like you don't work on vehicles for a living. Toyotas, by far, are the most reliable and dependable vehicles made. Just sayin'
My Jayco Featherlite is 3880lbs empty and I can barley make it up the slightest grades. I hate to even think about it, but its likely time to move on from my Tacoma. Which breaks my heart, cause I love my Tacoma, but its just not a good vehicle for towing at all. For a 278 hp motor it really lacks power where you need it.
I feel the same way. We just upgraded to a 22' that weights 4500#s loaded. The Tacoma struggles with it. Also looking at a new truck but sadly not much is available without a dealer markup.
Dear lord that transmission is all over the place. Get a good tune and put it in S4. Your transmission will run hotter doing all that jumping between 4th and 5th.
Tow Coma 😁
lol, it is
0-60 uphill towing 3500# in 13.46 seconds...my last half ton V8, which shall remain nameless, would have never seen 60mph towing 3500# uphill period. It wasn't that long ago, and it got great gas mileage, but it wouldn't tow a paper sack full of marshmallows.
I'm pretty sure the 0-60 portion was on a flat-ish section
That's just a tacoma they drive this way without a trailer. tacoma makes all the power at the top of the RPM range
You're right, serious lack of power at low RPMs
Id do Scamp with 4 cyl Tacoma.
the comments are more interesting than the video.😅
I have a TRD off-road and it shows like crap also not to mention the gear hunting this generation of trucks are complete garbage I'm selling mine as soon as possible